System and method for scrolling through media files on touchscreen devices

ABSTRACT

Some embodiments include a system. The system can comprise: one or more processors; and one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computing instructions configured to run on the one or more processors and perform acts of: transmitting instructions to initiate a playback of a media file on an electronic device; receiving, from a user, an instruction to enter a navigation mode; in response to receiving the instruction to enter the navigation mode, transmitting instructions to display a set of multiple thumbnails on a display, wherein each thumbnail of the set of multiple thumbnails represents a different portion of the media file; receiving, from the user, an input indicating a request to view a first portion of the media file represented by a first thumbnail of the set of multiple thumbnails on the display; and transmitting instructions to resume the playback of the media file on the electronic device at the first portion of the media file represented by the first thumbnail of the set of multiple thumbnails on the display. Other embodiments are disclosed herein.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part application claimingpriority to application Ser. No. 14/747,942, titled “System and Methodfor Scrolling Through Media Files on Touchscreen Devices,” filed on Jun.23, 2015, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by thisreference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to media playback, and relates moreparticularly to video playback on touchscreen devices.

BACKGROUND

More and more consumers are consuming media, including video content(e.g., movies and TV shows) using mobile devices or other devices thatfeature a touchscreen interface. Often times, consumers wish to advancethrough media content. Current methods of advancing through mediacontent might not allow fine enough control of the media content.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To facilitate further description of the embodiments, the followingdrawings are provided in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front elevation view of a computer system that issuitable for implementing at least part of a central computer system,according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a representative block diagram of exemplary elementsincluded on the circuit boards inside a chassis of the computer systemof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a representative block diagram of a system, accordingto an embodiment;

FIGS. 4A-4B are screenshots illustrating a screen layout of the priorart;

FIG. 5 is a screenshot illustrating a screen layout according to anembodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of an embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a system capable of performing anembodiment; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a representative diagram of a system, according anembodiment.

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figuresillustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions anddetails of well-known features and techniques might be omitted to avoidunnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure. Additionally, elementsin the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example,the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures might beexaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding ofembodiments of the present disclosure. The same reference numerals indifferent figures denote the same elements.

The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in thedescription and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishingbetween similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particularsequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the termsso used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such thatthe embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operationin sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.Furthermore, the terms “include,” and “have,” and any variationsthereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that aprocess, method, system, article, device, or apparatus that comprises alist of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but mightinclude other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process,method, system, article, device, or apparatus.

The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,”“under,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, areused for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describingpermanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms soused are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that theembodiments of the apparatus, methods, and/or articles of manufacturedescribed herein are, for example, capable of operation in otherorientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.

The terms “couple,” “coupled,” “couples,” “coupling,” and the likeshould be broadly understood and refer to connecting two or moreelements mechanically and/or otherwise. Two or more electrical elementscan be electrically coupled together, but not be mechanically orotherwise coupled together. Coupling can be for any length of time,e.g., permanent or semi-permanent or only for an instant. “Electricalcoupling” and the like should be broadly understood and includeelectrical coupling of all types. The absence of the word “removably,”“removable,” and the like near the word “coupled,” and the like does notmean that the coupling, etc. in question is or is not removable.

As defined herein, two or more elements are “integral” if they arecomprised of the same piece of material. As defined herein, two or moreelements are “non-integral” if each is comprised of a different piece ofmaterial.

As defined herein, “approximately” can, in some embodiments, mean withinplus or minus ten percent of the stated value. In other embodiments,“approximately” can mean within plus or minus five percent of the statedvalue. In further embodiments, “approximately” can mean within plus orminus three percent of the stated value. In yet other embodiments,“approximately” can mean within plus or minus one percent of the statedvalue.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENTS

Some embodiments include a system. The system can comprise: one or moreprocessors; and one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediastoring computing instructions configured to run on the one or moreprocessors and perform acts of: transmitting instructions to initiate aplayback of a media file on an electronic device; receiving, from auser, an instruction to enter a navigation mode; in response toreceiving the instruction to enter the navigation mode, transmittinginstructions to display a set of multiple thumbnails on a display,wherein each thumbnail of the set of multiple thumbnails represents adifferent portion of the media file; receiving, from the user, an inputindicating a request to view a first portion of the media filerepresented by a first thumbnail of the set of multiple thumbnails onthe display; and transmitting instructions to resume the playback of themedia file on the electronic device at the first portion of the mediafile represented by the first thumbnail of the set of multiplethumbnails on the display.

Some embodiments include a method implemented via execution of computinginstructions configured to run at one or more processors and configuredto be stored at non-transitory computer-readable media, the method cancomprise: transmitting instructions to initiate a playback of a mediafile on an electronic device; receiving, from a user, an instruction toenter a navigation mode; in response to receiving the instruction toenter the navigation mode, transmitting instructions to display a set ofmultiple thumbnails on a display, wherein each thumbnail of the set ofmultiple thumbnails represents a different portion of the media file;receiving, from the user, an input indicating a request to view a firstportion of the media file represented by a first thumbnail of the set ofmultiple thumbnails on the display; and transmitting instructions toresume the playback of the media file on the electronic device at thefirst portion of the media file represented by the first thumbnail ofthe set of multiple thumbnails on the display.

Some embodiments include a system. The system can comprise: a touchsensitive display device; one or more processing modules; and one ormore non-transitory storage modules storing computing instructionsconfigured to run on the one or more processing modules and perform theacts of: initiating playback of a media file on a touchscreen display;receiving an instruction to enter a navigation mode; displaying a set ofone or more thumbnails on the display wherein each of the set of one ormore thumbnails represents a portion of the media file; receiving aninput from a user indicating a desire to view a portion of the mediafile represented by one of the set of one or more thumbnails on thedisplay; and resuming playback of the media file on the display at theportion of the media file represented by one of the set of one or morethumbnails on the display; wherein the input from the user indicating adesire to view a portion of the media file comprises using scrollgestures on the set of one or more thumbnails to display a desiredportion of the media file.

Some embodiments include a method. The method can comprise: initiatingplayback of a media file on a display; receiving an instruction to entera navigation mode; displaying a set of one or more thumbnails on thedisplay wherein each of the set of one or more thumbnails represents aportion of the media file; receiving an input from a user indicating adesire to view a portion of the media file represented by one of the setof one or more thumbnails on the display; and resuming playback of themedia file on the display at the portion of the media file representedby one of the set of one or more thumbnails on the display; wherein theinput from the user indicating the desire to view the portion of themedia file comprises using scroll gestures on the set of one or morethumbnails to display a desired portion of the media file; and the inputfrom the user is received from a touch-sensitive device.

Some embodiments include a method. The method can comprise: initiatingplayback of a media file on a display; receiving an instruction to entera navigation mode; displaying a set of one or more thumbnails on thedisplay wherein each of the set of one or more thumbnails represents aportion of the media file; receiving an input from a user indicating adesire to view a portion of the media file represented by one of the setof one or more thumbnails on the display; and resuming playback of themedia file on the display at the portion of the media file representedby one of the set of one or more thumbnails on the display; wherein theinput from the user indicating a desire to view a portion of the mediafile comprises using scroll gestures on the set of one or morethumbnails to display a desired portion of the media file; and furtherwherein the input from the user is received from a touch-sensitivedevice.

Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of acomputer system 100, all of which or a portion of which can be suitablefor (i) implementing part or all of one or more embodiments of thetechniques, methods, and systems and/or (ii) implementing and/oroperating part or all of one or more embodiments of the memory storagemodules described herein. As an example, a different or separate one ofa chassis 102 (and its internal components) can be suitable forimplementing part or all of one or more embodiments of the techniques,methods, and/or systems described herein. Furthermore, one or moreelements of computer system 100 (e.g., a monitor 106, a keyboard 104,and/or a mouse 110, etc.) also can be appropriate for implementing partor all of one or more embodiments of the techniques, methods, and/orsystems described herein. Computer system 100 can comprise chassis 102containing one or more circuit boards (not shown), a Universal SerialBus (USB) port 112, a Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM) and/orDigital Video Disc (DVD) drive 116, and a drive 114. Drive 114 can be ahard drive that uses spinning magnetic disks to store data or it can bea solid state drive (SSD) that uses a fast, non-volatile memory forstorage. A representative block diagram of the elements included on thecircuit boards inside chassis 102 is shown in FIG. 2. A centralprocessing unit (CPU) 210 in FIG. 2 is coupled to a system bus 214 inFIG. 2. In various embodiments, the architecture of CPU 210 can becompliant with any of a variety of commercially distributed architecturefamilies.

Continuing with FIG. 2, system bus 214 also is coupled to a memorystorage unit 208, where memory storage unit 208 can comprise (i)non-volatile memory, such as, for example, read only memory (ROM) and/or(ii) volatile memory, such as, for example, random access memory (RAM).The non-volatile memory can be removable and/or non-removablenon-volatile memory. Meanwhile, RAM can include dynamic RAM (DRAM),static RAM (SRAM), etc. Further, ROM can include mask-programmed ROM,programmable ROM (PROM), one-time programmable ROM (OTP), erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasableprogrammable ROM (EEPROM) (e.g., electrically alterable ROM (EAROM)and/or flash memory), etc. The memory storage module(s) of the variousembodiments disclosed herein can comprise memory storage unit 208, anexternal memory storage drive (not shown), such as, for example, aUSB-equipped electronic memory storage drive coupled to universal serialbus (USB) port 112 (FIGS. 1-2), drive 114 (FIGS. 1-2), CD-ROM and/or DVDdrive 116 (FIGS. 1-2), a floppy disk drive (not shown), an optical disc(not shown), a magneto-optical disc (now shown), magnetic tape (notshown), etc. Further, non-volatile or non-transitory memory storagemodule(s) refer to the portions of the memory storage module(s) that arenon-volatile memory.

In various examples, portions of the memory storage module(s) of thevarious embodiments disclosed herein (e.g., portions of the non-volatilememory storage module(s)) can be encoded with a boot code sequencesuitable for restoring computer system 100 (FIG. 1) to a functionalstate after a system reset. In addition, portions of the memory storagemodule(s) of the various embodiments disclosed herein (e.g., portions ofthe non-volatile memory storage module(s)) can comprise microcode suchas a Basic Input-Output System (BIOS) operable with computer system 100(FIG. 1). In the same or different examples, portions of the memorystorage module(s) of the various embodiments disclosed herein (e.g.,portions of the non-volatile memory storage module(s)) can comprise anoperating system, which can be a software program that manages thehardware and software resources of a computer and/or a computer network.The BIOS can initialize and test components of computer system 100(FIG. 1) and load the operating system. Meanwhile, the operating systemcan perform basic tasks such as, for example, controlling and allocatingmemory, prioritizing the processing of instructions, controlling inputand output devices, facilitating networking, and managing files.Exemplary operating systems can comprise one of the following: (i)Microsoft® Windows® operating system (OS) by Microsoft Corp. of Redmond,Wash., United States of America, (ii) Mac® OS X by Apple Inc. ofCupertino, Calif., United States of America, (iii) UNIX® OS, and (iv)Linux® OS. Further exemplary operating systems can comprise one of thefollowing: (i) the iOS® operating system by Apple Inc. of Cupertino,Calif., United States of America, (ii) the Blackberry® operating systemby Research In Motion (RIM) of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, (iii) theWebOS operating system by LG Electronics of Seoul, South Korea, (iv) theAndroid™ operating system developed by Google, of Mountain View, Calif.,United States of America, (v) the Windows Mobile™ operating system byMicrosoft Corp. of Redmond, Wash., United States of America, or (vi) theSymbian™ operating system by Accenture PLC of Dublin, Ireland.

As used herein, “processor” and/or “processing module” means any type ofcomputational circuit, such as but not limited to a microprocessor, amicrocontroller, a controller, a complex instruction set computing(CISC) microprocessor, a reduced instruction set computing (RISC)microprocessor, a very long instruction word (VLIW) microprocessor, agraphics processor, a digital signal processor, or any other type ofprocessor or processing circuit capable of performing the desiredfunctions. In some examples, the one or more processing modules of thevarious embodiments disclosed herein can comprise CPU 210.

In the depicted embodiment of FIG. 2, various I/O devices such as a diskcontroller 204, a graphics adapter 224, a video controller 202, akeyboard adapter 226, a mouse adapter 206, a network adapter 220, andother I/O devices 222 can be coupled to system bus 214. Keyboard adapter226 and mouse adapter 206 are coupled to keyboard 104 (FIGS. 1-2) andmouse 110 (FIGS. 1-2), respectively, of computer system 100 (FIG. 1).While graphics adapter 224 and video controller 202 are indicated asdistinct units in FIG. 2, video controller 202 can be integrated intographics adapter 224, or vice versa in other embodiments. Videocontroller 202 is suitable for monitor 106 (FIGS. 1-2) to display imageson a screen 108 (FIG. 1) of computer system 100 (FIG. 1). Diskcontroller 204 can control hard drive 114 (FIGS. 1-2), USB port 112(FIGS. 1-2), and CD-ROM drive 116 (FIGS. 1-2). In other embodiments,distinct units can be used to control each of these devices separately.

Network adapter 220 can be suitable to connect computer system 100(FIG. 1) to a computer network by wired communication (e.g., a wirednetwork adapter) and/or wireless communication (e.g., a wireless networkadapter). In some embodiments, network adapter 220 can be plugged orcoupled to an expansion port (not shown) in computer system 100 (FIG.1). In other embodiments, network adapter 220 can be built into computersystem 100 (FIG. 1). For example, network adapter 220 can be built intocomputer system 100 (FIG. 1) by being integrated into the motherboardchipset (not shown), or implemented via one or more dedicatedcommunication chips (not shown), connected through a PCI (peripheralcomponent interconnector) or a PCI express bus of computer system 100(FIG. 1) or USB port 112 (FIG. 1).

Returning now to FIG. 1, although many other components of computersystem 100 are not shown, such components and their interconnection arewell known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, furtherdetails concerning the construction and composition of computer system100 and the circuit boards inside chassis 102 are not discussed herein.

Meanwhile, when computer system 100 is running, program instructions(e.g., computer instructions) stored on one or more of the memorystorage module(s) of the various embodiments disclosed herein can beexecuted by CPU 210 (FIG. 2). At least a portion of the programinstructions, stored on these devices, can be suitable for carrying outat least part of the techniques and methods described herein.

Further, although computer system 100 is illustrated as a desktopcomputer in FIG. 1, there can be examples where computer system 100 maytake a different form factor while still having functional elementssimilar to those described for computer system 100. In some embodiments,computer system 100 may comprise a single computer, a single server, ora cluster or collection of computers or servers, or a cloud of computersor servers. Typically, a cluster or collection of servers can be usedwhen the demand on computer system 100 exceeds the reasonable capabilityof a single server or computer. In certain embodiments, computer system100 may comprise a portable computer, such as a laptop computer. Incertain other embodiments, computer system 100 may comprise a mobiledevice, such as a smartphone. In certain additional embodiments,computer system 100 may comprise an embedded system.

Skipping ahead now in the drawings, FIG. 3 illustrates a representativeblock diagram of a system 300, according to an embodiment. System 300 ismerely exemplary and embodiments of the system are not limited to theembodiments presented herein. System 300 can be employed in manydifferent embodiments or examples not specifically depicted or describedherein. In some embodiments, certain elements or modules of system 300can perform various methods and/or activities of those methods. In theseor other embodiments, the methods and/or the activities of the methodscan be performed by other suitable elements or modules of system 300.

As further described in greater detail below, in these or otherembodiments, system 300 can proactively (e.g., prospectively) and/orreactively (e.g., responsively) determine and/or communicate theconsumer product information to the consumer, as desired. Proactive actscan refer to acts (e.g., identification, determination, communication,etc.) performed without consideration of one or more predetermined actsperformed by the consumer; and reactive acts can refer to acts (e.g.,identification, determination, communication, etc.) performed withconsideration of (i.e., in response to) one or more predetermined actsperformed by the consumer. For example, in some embodiments, thepredetermined act(s) can comprise an act of identifying a selection of aconsumer product by the consumer.

Meanwhile, as also described in greater detail below, system 300 can beimplemented in brick-and-mortar commerce and/or electronic commerceapplications, as desirable. Further, in many of these or otherembodiments, system 300 can communicate the consumer product informationto the consumer substantially in real-time (e.g., near real-time). Nearreal-time can mean real-time less a time delay for processing (e.g.,determining) and/or transmitting the relevant consumer productinformation to the relevant consumer. The particular time delay can varydepending on the type and/or amount of the consumer product information,the processing speed(s) of the processing module(s) of system 300, thetransmission capability of the communication hardware (as introducedbelow), the transmission distance, etc. However, in many embodiments,the time delay can be less than approximately one, five, ten, or twentyminutes.

Generally, therefore, system 300 can be implemented with hardware and/orsoftware, as described herein. In some embodiments, part or all of thehardware and/or software can be conventional, while in these or otherembodiments, part or all of the hardware and/or software can becustomized (e.g., optimized) for implementing part or all of thefunctionality of system 300 described herein.

Specifically, system 300 comprises a central computer system 301. Inmany embodiments, central computer system 301 can be similar oridentical to computer system 100 (FIG. 1). Accordingly, central computersystem 301 can comprise one or more processing modules and one or morememory storage modules (e.g., one or more non-transitory memory storagemodules). In these or other embodiments, the processing module(s) and/orthe memory storage module(s) can be similar or identical to theprocessing module(s) and/or memory storage module(s) (e.g.,non-transitory memory storage modules) described above with respect tocomputer system 100 (FIG. 1). In some embodiments, central computersystem 301 can comprise a single computer or server, but in manyembodiments, central computer system 301 comprises a cluster orcollection of computers or servers and/or a cloud of computers orservers. Meanwhile, central computer system 301 can comprise one or moreinput devices (e.g., one or more keyboards, one or more keypads, one ormore pointing devices such as a computer mouse or computer mice, one ormore touchscreen displays, etc.), and/or can comprise one or moredisplay devices (e.g., one or more monitors, one or more touchscreendisplays, etc.). In these or other embodiments, one or more of the inputdevice(s) can be similar or identical to keyboard 104 (FIG. 1) and/or amouse 110 (FIG. 1). Further, one or more of the display device(s) can besimilar or identical to monitor 106 (FIG. 1) and/or screen 108 (FIG. 1).The input device(s) and the display device(s) can be coupled to theprocessing module(s) and/or the memory storage module(s) of centralcomputer system 301 in a wired manner and/or a wireless manner, and thecoupling can be direct and/or indirect, as well as locally and/orremotely. As an example of an indirect manner (which may or may not be aremote manner, as well), a keyboard-video-mouse (KVM) switch can be usedto couple the input device(s) and the display device(s) to theprocessing module(s) and/or the memory storage module(s). In someembodiments, the KVM switch also can be part of central computer system301. In a similar manner, the processing module(s) and the memorystorage module(s) can be local and/or remote to each other.

In many embodiments, central computer system 301 is configured tocommunicate with one or more consumer computer systems 302 (e.g., aconsumer computer system 303) of one or more consumers. For example, theconsumer(s) can interface (e.g., interact) with central computer system301, and vice versa, via consumer computer system(s) 302 (e.g., consumercomputer system 303). Accordingly, in many embodiments, central computersystem 301 can refer to a back end of system 300 operated by an operatorand/or administrator of system 300, and consumer computer system(s) 302can refer to a front end of system 300 used by one or more users ofsystem 300 (i.e., the consumer(s)). In these or other embodiments, theoperator and/or administrator of system 300 can manage central computersystem 301, the processing module(s) of computer system 301, and/or thememory storage module(s) of computer system 301 using the inputdevice(s) and/or display device(s) of central computer system 301. Insome embodiments, system 300 can comprise consumer computer system(s)302 (e.g., consumer computer system 303).

Like central computer system 301, each of consumer computer system(s)302 can be similar or identical to computer system 100 (FIG. 1), and inmany embodiments, each of consumer computer system(s) 302 can be similaror identical to each other. In many embodiments, consumer computersystem(s) 302 can comprise one or more desktop computer devices, one ormore wearable user computer devices, and/or one or more mobile devices,etc. At least part of central computer system 301 can be locatedremotely from consumer computer system(s) 302.

In some embodiments, a mobile device can refer to a portable electronicdevice (e.g., an electronic device easily conveyable by hand by a personof average size) with the capability to present audio and/or visual data(e.g., images, videos, music, etc.). For example, a mobile device cancomprise at least one of a digital media player, a cellular telephone(e.g., a smartphone), a personal digital assistant, a handheld digitalcomputer device (e.g., a tablet personal computer device), a laptopcomputer device (e.g., a notebook computer device, a netbook computerdevice), a wearable user computer device, or another portable computerdevice with the capability to present audio and/or visual data (e.g.,images, videos, music, etc.). Thus, in many examples, a mobile devicecan comprise a volume and/or weight sufficiently small as to permit themobile device to be easily conveyable by hand. For examples, in someembodiments, a mobile device can occupy a volume of less than or equalto approximately 189 cubic centimeters, 244 cubic centimeters, 1790cubic centimeters, 2434 cubic centimeters, 2876 cubic centimeters, 4056cubic centimeters, and/or 5752 cubic centimeters. Further, in theseembodiments, a mobile device can weigh less than or equal to 3.24Newtons, 4.35 Newtons, 15.6 Newtons, 17.8 Newtons, 22.3 Newtons, 31.2Newtons, and/or 44.5 Newtons.

Exemplary mobile devices can comprise, but are not limited to, one ofthe following: (i) an iPod®, iPhone®, iPod Touch®, iPad®, MacBook® orsimilar product by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., United States ofAmerica, (ii) a Blackberry® or similar product by Research in Motion(RIM) of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, (iii) a Lumia®, Surface Pro™, orsimilar product by the Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash., UnitedStates of America, and/or (iv) a Galaxy™, Galaxy Tab™, Note™, or similarproduct by the Samsung Group of Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea.Further, in the same or different embodiments, a mobile device cancomprise an electronic device configured to implement one or more of (i)the iOS™ operating system by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., UnitedStates of America, (ii) the Blackberry® operating system by Research InMotion (RIM) of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, (iii) the Palm® operatingsystem by Palm, Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif., United States, (iv) theAndroid™ operating system developed by Google, Inc. of Mountain View,Calif., United States, (v) the Windows Mobile™, Windows Phone™, andWindows 10 (mobile)™ operating systems by Microsoft Corporation ofRedmond, Wash., United States of America, or (vi) the Symbian™ operatingsystem by Nokia Corp. of Keilaniemi, Espoo, Finland.

In further embodiments, central computer system 301 can be configured tocommunicate with software (e.g., one or more web browsers, one or moremobile software applications, etc.) of the consumer computer system(s)302 (e.g., consumer computer system 303). For example, the software canrun on one or more processing modules and can be stored on one or morememory storage modules (e.g., one or more non-transitory memory storagemodules) of the consumer computer system(s) 302 (e.g., consumer computersystem 303). In these or other embodiments, the processing module(s) ofthe consumer computer system(s) 302 (e.g., consumer computer system 303)can be similar or identical to the processing module(s) described abovewith respect to computer system 100 (FIG. 1). Further, the memorystorage module(s) (e.g., non-transitory memory storage modules) of theconsumer computer system(s) 302 (e.g., consumer computer system 303) canbe similar or identical to the memory storage module(s) (e.g.,non-transitory memory storage module(s)) described above with respect tocomputer system 100 (FIG. 1). Exemplary web browsers can include (i)Firefox® by the Mozilla Organization of Mountain View, Calif., UnitedStates of America, (ii) Internet Explorer® by the Microsoft Corp. ofRedmond, Wash., United States of America, (iii) Chrome™ by Google Inc.of Menlo Park, Calif., United States of America, (iv) Opera® by OperaSoftware of Oslo, Norway, and (v) Safari® by Apple Inc. of Cupertino,Calif., United States of America.

Meanwhile, in many embodiments, central computer system 301 also can beconfigured to communicate with one or more databases 312. The databasecan comprise a product database that contains information about productssold by a retailer. Database(s) 312 can be stored on one or more memorystorage modules (e.g., non-transitory memory storage module(s)), whichcan be similar or identical to the one or more memory storage module(s)(e.g., non-transitory memory storage module(s)) described above withrespect to computer system 100 (FIG. 1). Also, in some embodiments, forany particular database of database(s) 312, that particular database canbe stored on a single memory storage module of the memory storagemodule(s) and/or the non-transitory memory storage module(s) storingdatabase(s) 312 or it can be spread across multiple of the memorystorage module(s) and/or non-transitory memory storage module(s) storingdatabase(s) 312, depending on the size of the particular database and/orthe storage capacity of the memory storage module(s) and/ornon-transitory memory storage module(s).

In these or other embodiments, the memory storage module(s) of centralcomputer system 300 can comprise some or all of the memory storagemodule(s) storing database(s) 312. In further embodiments, some of thememory storage module(s) storing database(s) 312 can be part of consumercomputer systems 302 and/or one or more third-party computer systems(i.e., other than central computer system 301 and consumer computersystems 302), and in still further embodiments, all of the memorystorage module(s) storing database(s) 312 can be part of consumercomputer systems 302 and/or the third-party computer system(s). Likecentral computer system 301 and consumer computer system(s) 302, whenapplicable, each of the third-party computer system(s) can be similar oridentical to computer system 100 (FIG. 1). Notably, the third-partycomputer systems are omitted from the drawings to better illustrate thatdatabase(s) 312 can be stored at memory storage module(s) of centralcomputer system 301, consumer computer system(s) 302, and/or thethird-party computer systems, depending on the manner in which system300 is implemented.

Database(s) 312 each can comprise a structured (e.g., indexed)collection of data and can be managed by any suitable databasemanagement systems configured to define, create, query, organize,update, and manage database(s). Exemplary database management systemscan include MySQL (Structured Query Language) Database, PostgreSQLDatabase, Microsoft SQL Server Database, Oracle Database, SAP (Systems,Applications, & Products) Database, and IBM DB2 Database.

Meanwhile, communication between central computer system 301, consumercomputer system(s) 302 (e.g., consumer computer system 303), and/ordatabase(s) 312 can be implemented using any suitable manner of wiredand/or wireless communication. Accordingly, system 300 can comprise anysoftware and/or hardware components configured to implement the wiredand/or wireless communication. Further, the wired and/or wirelesscommunication can be implemented using any one or any combination ofwired and/or wireless communication network topologies (e.g., ring,line, tree, bus, mesh, star, daisy chain, hybrid, etc.) and/or protocols(e.g., personal area network (PAN) protocol(s), local area network (LAN)protocol(s), wide area network (WAN) protocol(s), cellular networkprotocol(s), powerline network protocol(s), etc.). Exemplary PANprotocol(s) can comprise Bluetooth, Zigbee, Wireless Universal SerialBus (USB), Z-Wave, etc. Exemplary LAN and/or WAN protocol(s) cancomprise Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS),Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.3 (alsoknown as Ethernet), IEEE 802.11 (also known as WiFi), etc. Exemplarywireless cellular network protocol(s) can comprise Global System forMobile Communications (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), CodeDivision Multiple Access (CDMA), Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO),Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS), Digital Enhanced CordlessTelecommunications (DECT), Digital AMPS (IS-136/Time Division MultipleAccess (TDMA)), Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN), EvolvedHigh-Speed Packet Access (HSPA+), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), WiMAX, andthe like. The specific communication software and/or hardwareimplemented can depend on the network topologies and/or protocolsimplemented, and vice versa. In many embodiments, exemplarycommunication hardware can comprise wired communication hardwareincluding, for example, one or more data buses, such as, for example,universal serial bus(es), one or more networking cables, such as, forexample, coaxial cable(s), optical fiber cable(s), and/or twisted paircable(s), any other suitable data cable, etc. Further exemplarycommunication hardware can comprise wireless communication hardwareincluding, for example, one or more radio transceivers, one or moreinfrared transceivers, etc. Additional exemplary communication hardwarecan comprise one or more networking components (e.g.,modulator-demodulator components, gateway components, etc.)

In some embodiments, communications and/or data transmitted and/orreceived by, within and/or between the system 300 can be performedautomatically. In further embodiments, communications and/or datatransmitted and/or received by, within and/or between the system 300 canbe performed in real time. In other embodiments, from communicationsand/or data transmitted and/or received by, within and/or between thesystem 300 can originate from multiple sources.

For convenience, the functionality of system 300 is described herein asit relates particularly to consumer computer system 303 and a singleconsumer, but in many embodiments, the functionality of system 300 canbe extended to each of consumer computer system(s) 302 and/or tomultiple consumers. In these extended examples, in some embodiments,single consumers can interface (e.g., interact) with central computersystem 301 using multiple consumer computer systems of consumer computersystem(s) 302 (e.g., at different times). For example, a consumer couldinterface with central computer system 301 via a first consumer computersystem (e.g., a desktop computer), such as, for example, wheninterfacing with central computer system 301 from home, and via a secondconsumer computer system (e.g., a mobile device), such as, for example,when interfacing with central computer system 301 away from home.

Recent advancements in computer technology have made the consumption ofmedia, including audio and video, on mobile devices more and morecommon. Previously, one had to use optical media such as DVD and Blu-raydiscs in order to view media files. However, improved download speedsand the proliferation of mobile devices has made the consumption ofmedia on mobile devices (that cannot read optical media) increasinglymore common.

One thing that many mobile devices have in common is the use of atouchscreen interface, also known as a touch-sensitive display. On sucha touchscreen interface, instead of a user using a remote control,keyboard, mouse, or other type of interface, the user directly touchesthe screen upon which the media file is being displayed. The touchscreenhas a variety of mechanisms by which it can detect a touch, either by astylus or a finger. Exemplary touchscreen technologies include resistivetouchscreens, capacitive touchscreens, optical imaging, and the like,though embodiments are not limited to any specific touchscreentechnology. Some embodiments also can use other touch-sensitive devices,such as a touchpad.

Often, when a user is viewing a media file, the user might want toadvance through the media file or go backwards through the media file.There can be many reasons to do so. For example, the user might want toview a particular scene again, or the user might want to skip one partof a media file that he has already viewed or is otherwise notinterested in to access a later or earlier part of the media file.

Optical disc based media often make use of buttons to advance through amedia file. An optical disc-based player is typically controlled viabuttons on the front of the player or a remote control that has avariety of buttons. A typical remote control had various sets ofbuttons, including chapter back and skip; fast forward; and fastreverse. However, such controls might not be appropriate for media filesviewed using a mobile device. For example, going backward and forwardusing those types of keys were relatively slow and/or might not beprecise enough for some users. In addition, while disc-based media oftenuses chapter markers, streaming media and other media accessible usingmobile devices might not use chapter markers, making chapter forward andchapter skip controls inoperable.

Computer-based media often uses other methods of allowing users toquickly find a portion of a media file. On-line services such as Youtubeand Vimeo as well as media players such as VLC, Windows Media Player,Quicktime, and the like often use an interface that contains a slider.

With reference to FIG. 4A, a screen shot 400 containing an exemplaryinterface of the prior art is illustrated. As an example, screen shot400 can be shown on a screen of monitor 106 (FIG. 1).

Window 410 is used to display the media content. Also present in screenshot 400 are transport controls 415 and slider 420. Transport controls415 allow a user to start, stop, and pause a media file. Other transportcontrols (such as fast forward and fast reverse) also might be present.Other controls also can be present, but are not illustrated in FIG. 4A,such as window sizing controls, volume controls, and the like. Therealso can be status displays, such as elapsed time, time remaining, andthe like.

Slider 420 serves two main purposes. First, slider 420 provides a visualindication of where in the media file the user is at. In a 10-minutemedia file, when the user is at the 5-minute mark of the media file, anindicator 422 on slider 420 will be at approximately the half-way pointof slider 420. Indicator 422 can take a variety of different forms. Forexample, indicator 422 can be a shape (such as a diamond, square,circle) or indicator 422 can be a bar graph. Indicator 422 can takeother forms as well. Slider 420 also allows a user to advance a mediafile to a specific point of a media file. For example, a user might wantto advance to a point that is approximately 6 minutes into a 10-minutemedia file. The user would move indicator 422 within slider 420 until 6minutes is displayed in the status area.

One disadvantage of the use of such a slider is that the user might notknow where exactly he wants to advance the media file. It is rare that auser knows, for example, that a particular scene starts at exactly 6minutes and 17 seconds into a media file. The user might simply want toadvance past the opening credits of a movie, for example, and not knowwhen the credits end. Or the user might want to view a scene or listento a song again and might not know exactly when the scene started.

To alleviate such a problem, some media players have shown thumbnails onthe screen. For example, when a user clicks on indicator 422 withinslider 420, some media players show a thumbnail above indicator 422.Such an embodiment is shown in FIG. 4B. Window 410, transport controls415, slider 420, and indicator 422 in FIG. 4B are similar to that shownin FIG. 4A. When a user touched or clicked on indicator 422 or slider420, a thumbnail 450 might be displayed above indicator 422 or slider420. Thumbnail 450 displays the content of the media file at thespecific time indicated by the position of slider 420. The presence ofthumbnail 450 can allow a user to more reliably find a particular scenethat the user wants to view. For example, a user might want to watch ascene of a movie featuring two specific actors doing a particular scene.The user would then move indicator 422 within slider 420 until thumbnail450 showed the scene the user is interested in viewing.

There are several limitations of such a methodology. For example, therate of change of moving through a media file might not be precise. Inmany players, the size of slider 420 is a fixed length on screen,relative to the size of window 410, no matter the length of the mediafile. Navigating through a 5 minute media file using slider 420 might berelatively easy because a user can easily move slider 420 to an exactsecond. But navigating through a 3-hour movie is more difficult becauseslider 420 has a lower resolution—a small movement of the slider canresult in a large movement through a media file.

A solution to the above and other problems is presented below. Whenusing a device with a touchscreen interface, such as a mobile device,including a tablet, a smartphone, a laptop computer, and the like, auser is able to use gestures to bring up specific facets of aninterface. One of the gestures can pause the media file and bring up alarge series of thumbnails, each showing the media file at a specificinstance in time. From this screen, swiping to the left and to the rightcan move through the media file. Also on this screen can be anindication of how far ahead each thumbnail is. Other gestures can changethe amount of movement per gesture.

With reference to FIG. 5, a screenshot 500 containing an exemplaryinterface is illustrated. FIG. 5 is merely exemplary and embodiments ofthe screen representation and menu system are not limited to theembodiments presented herein. The screen representation and menu systemcan be employed in many different embodiments or examples notspecifically depicted or described herein. As an example, screen shot500 can be shown on a screen 108 (FIG. 1) of monitor 106 (FIG. 1).

Window 510 is used to display media content. The media content isdisplayed in any manner now known in the art or developed in the future.For example, the media content is often compressed into a media fileusing a known technique (such as advanced audio coding (AAC), H.264,Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG), MPEG-2 layer 3 (MP3), MPEG-2,MPEG-4, and the like). An application in the mobile device reads themedia file from a long-term memory, such as drive 114 of FIG. 1, intotemporary memory, such as memory storage 208 of FIG. 2. Thereafter, themedia file can be decompressed by a processor, such as CPU 210 of FIG.2, and the resulting content displayed on a display, such as display108. It should be understood that a mobile device can take a tablet formand such components can be contained in a single device, such as atablet or a smartphone.

After the user activates the transport mode, the playback of the mediafile is paused and a series of thumbnails 520 are shown. The transportmode can be activated in one of a variety of different manners. In someembodiments, the transport mode can be activated by tapping the screen.In some embodiments, the transport mode can be activated by touching thescreen in a specific place of the display. In some embodiments, thetransport mode can be activated using a specific multi-touch command,where the user uses multiple fingers to activate a transport mode. Insuch embodiments, the use of a transport mode lessens the need fortransport controls 415 of FIG. 4A. Illustrated in FIG. 5 is a set ofthree thumbnails. It should be understood that a different number ofthumbnails can also be shown by changing the size of the thumbnail. Insome embodiments, the size of the thumbnails 520 can be adjusted by auser (either dynamically or through the use of a setting menu.) In anembodiment using dynamic sizing, a user can enter a sizing mode toresize thumbnails 520 using a variety of techniques, such as “pinching”by moving two fingers towards each other to make thumbnails 520 smalleror “zooming” by moving two fingers away from each other to makethumbnails 520 larger.

Thumbnails 520 can have a fixed aspect ratio (the ratio of the width ofthe frame to the height of the frame) that is the same for all mediafiles (for example 16:9 is a commonly used aspect ratio in some mobiledevices). In some embodiments, the aspect ratio of thumbnails 520 canvary depending on the aspect ratio of the media file (e.g., some videosmight be 4:3, others might be 2.39:1 or some other aspect ratio).

Also shown in FIG. 5 are time indicators 530. After the user enters thetransport mode, time indicators 530 are used to show the user how far inadvance (or reverse) the particular thumbnail is. Each thumbnail in theset of thumbnails is at a time difference T from the next thumbnail inthe set of thumbnails. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, T is 5seconds, such that each thumbnail is 5 seconds ahead in time from theprevious thumbnail, so the frames shown are +5 seconds, +10 seconds, and+15 seconds ahead of the paused frame. Other time values also can beused. In some embodiments, thumbnails can be 1 second apart. In someembodiments, the time difference T between thumbnails can be changed bythe user. For example, a user can change the time difference through theuse of gestures. A user might swipe up from a lower portion of thescreen to an upper portion of the screen to make the time difference Tbetween thumbnails greater or swipe down from an upper portion of thescreen to a lower portion of the screen to make the time difference Tbetween thumbnails smaller. In such a manner, the user can skip ahead 30seconds at a time, a minute at a time, two minutes at a time, or evenmore.

When the thumbnails are displayed, the user is able to swipe to the leftor to the right. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the thumbnails are at5 seconds, 10 seconds, and 15 seconds after the current screen. Bymaking a right to left swiping motion on the screen, the thumbnailsbeing shown can be at 20 seconds, 25 seconds, and 30 seconds after thecurrent screen. Similarly, by making a left to right swiping motion onthe screen, the thumbnails being shown can be at 15 seconds, 10 seconds,and 5 seconds before the current screen. A user can skip many frames bymaking the motion to the left or to the right fast, resulting in a largeskip forward and back. Thereafter, the user can resume playback byexiting the transport mode. In some embodiments, a user can exit thetransport mode by tapping on the screen. In some embodiments, the usertaps on the screen on a particular thumbnail to exit transport mode atthe particular time illustrated by the thumbnail. For example, if theuser taps on the +15 second thumbnail, playback resumes 15 secondsfurther from when the user was previously watching the content. In someembodiments, there might be a specific area of the screen set aside toallow the user to leave the transport mode.

A flowchart illustrating the operation of a touchscreen mediatransportation method 600 is presented in FIG. 6. Method 600 is merelyexemplary and is not limited to the embodiments presented herein. Method600 can be employed in many different embodiments or examples notspecifically depicted or described herein. In some embodiments, theprocedures, the processes and/or the activities of method 400 can beperformed in the order presented. In other embodiments, the procedures,the processes, and/or the activities of method 600 can be performed inany other suitable order. In still other embodiments, one or more of theprocedures, the processes, and/or the activities of method 600 can becombined or skipped. In some embodiments, portions of method 600 can beimplemented by computer system 100 (FIG. 1).

A mobile device receives instructions from a user to initiate theplayback of a media file (block 602). This can be done in a variety ofdifferent manners. For example, there can be a list of available mediafiles to play that is displayed to the user. A user selects a media file(often by tapping a thumbnail or a title of the media file). The mobiledevice begins playback of the media file (block 604). The mobile devicereceives an instruction to enter into a navigation mode (block 606). Asdescribed above, the navigation mode can be entered into in a variety ofdifferent manners. In some embodiments, the navigation mode can beinitiated by a user tapping on the screen. In some embodiments, thenavigation mode can be initiated by a user tapping on the screen in aspecific area of the screen.

When the mobile device receives such an input, the navigation mode isactivated. Once the navigation mode is activated, a set of thumbnails isdisplayed on the mobile device (block 608). Each thumbnail in the set ofthumbnails represents a point in time of the media file. As describedabove, one thumbnail can be a frame that is 5 seconds further in timefrom the present frame, the next thumbnail can be a frame that is 10seconds further in time from the present frame and so on. In oneembodiment, each of the thumbnails in the set of thumbnails areapproximately one-half the height of the main display (as illustrated asthumbnails 520 from FIG. 5). As discussed above, the thumbnails can bere-sized in a variety of different manners. As the size of thethumbnails gets smaller, more thumbnails might be displayed. As the sizeof the thumbnails gets larger, fewer thumbnails might be displayed.

Along with the thumbnails, time indicators (such as time indicators 530from FIG. 5) are also shown. The manner in which the thumbnails can bedisplayed are varied. One of a variety of different techniques thatcurrently exist in the art or techniques that are developed in thefuture can be used to display the thumbnails. In some embodiments,thumbnails are embedded in the media file being displayed. In such anembodiment, the thumbnails can be accessed and displayed using commonthumbnail display techniques.

Returning to FIG. 6, inputs are received on the mobile device fornavigation purposes (block 610). A variety of different inputs can beused for navigation purposes. A swipe from right to the left can be usedto navigate forward in the media file. A swipe from left to the rightcan be used to navigate to previous times in the media file. A swipefrom the bottom of the display towards the top can increase the amountof movement by the swipes. A swipe from the top of the display towardsthe bottom can decrease the amount of movement by the swipes. In someembodiments, the default amount of time between screenshots is onesecond. In some embodiments, the default amount of time betweenscreenshots is dependent on the encoding of the media file (such thatlonger media files might have a longer amount of time betweenscreenshots). The instructions received are translated into visualmovement of the thumbnails.

Once the user has found the desired location that where he wantsplayback to resume, the user sends an input indicating a desire to endthe navigation mode (block 612). In some embodiments, tapping on thescreen can indicate a desire to end the navigation mode. In someembodiments, a double tap on the screen can be used as such an input. Insome embodiments, there might be a specific area of the screen that auser accesses to end navigation mode. In some embodiments, there can bea physical button on the mobile device that can be accessed to end thenavigation mode. In some embodiments, there can be other methods used bya user to indicate a desire to end the navigation mode.

Once an embodiment receives the indication of a desire to end thenavigation mode, playback is resumed at the portion of the media fileindicated by the user (block 614). This process of resuming playback ata certain time can use a variety of techniques now known or developed inthe future. For example, once it is known that a user wants to view amedia file starting at 50 minutes and 32 seconds, the portion of themedia file starting at that point can be requested by a server.Thereafter, the portion of the media file corresponding to 50:32 isdownloaded to the mobile device, and playback can be initiated. If theportion of the media file corresponding to 50:32 is already in thememory of the mobile device, that portion is retrieved from the memory,and playback is resumed as soon as the requested portion is retrieved.In addition, any visual indications of the current position in the fileare updated. For example, if there is text indicating the minute andsecond of the media file being played, that text is updated, as well. Ifthere is a visual indication of position such as an indicator and/orslider, that indication is updated with the new position, too.

Turning ahead in the figures, FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of asystem 700 that is capable of performing disclosed embodiments. System700 is merely exemplary and is not limited to the embodiments presentedherein. System 700 can be employed in many different embodiments orexamples not specifically depicted or described herein. In someembodiments, certain elements or modules of system 700 can performvarious procedures, processes, and/or acts. In other embodiments, theprocedures, processes, and/or acts can be performed by other suitableelements or modules.

In a number of embodiments, system 700 can include playback instructionreceiving module 702. In certain embodiments, playback instructionreceiving module 702 can perform block 602 (FIG. 6) of receivinginstructions to initiate playback of a media file.

In a number of embodiments, system 700 can include playback initiationmodule 704. In certain embodiments, playback initiation module 704 canperform block 604 (FIG. 6) of initiating playback of a media file.

System 700 can include navigation mode entrance module 706. In certainembodiments, navigation mode entrance module 706 can perform block 606(FIG. 6) of receiving instructions to enter a navigation mode.

System 700 can include thumbnail display module 708. In certainembodiments, thumbnail display module 708 can perform block 608 (FIG. 6)of displaying thumbnails on the mobile device.

System 700 can include navigation module 710. In certain embodiments,navigation module 710 can perform block 610 (FIG. 6) of receivingnavigation inputs from the user.

System 700 can include navigation end module 712. In certainembodiments, navigation end module 712 can perform block 612 (FIG. 6) ofreceiving an input indicating a desire to end navigation mode.

System 700 can include playback resumption module 714. In certainembodiments, playback resumption module 714 can perform block 614 (FIG.6) of resuming playback.

Turning now to FIG. 8, an exemplary embodiment of a system 800 executingan exemplary embodiment of a method for scrolling through media files.In some embodiments, a touchscreen device 801 is used to initiate andcontrol playback of a media file that is displayed on an electronicdevice 802 that is different and separate from the electronic device. Inthe same or different embodiments, the electronic device and thetouchscreen device are the same device.

In various embodiments, system 800 can display interfaces displayed inscreenshots 400 (FIGS. 4A and 4B) and/or 500 (FIG. 5) on touchscreendevice 801 and/or electronic device 802. In the same or differentembodiments, different interfaces can be displayed on system 800, suchas interface 810. In some embodiments, interface 810 can comprise atitle of a media file 811, a media file banner 812, and/or a track bar813 when not in navigation mode. In some embodiments, when navigationmode is entered, a title of a media file 811, a media file banner 812,and/or a track bar 813 can fade, disappear, and/or shrink such that theydo not overlap or disrupt interfaces displayed in screenshots 400 (FIGS.4A and 4B) and/or 500 (FIG. 5).

In various embodiments, a touchscreen device 801 can display interface810 and/or interfaces displayed in screenshots 400 (FIGS. 4A and 4B)and/or 500 (FIG. 5) while a media file is played on an electronic device802. In the same or different embodiments, both touchscreen device 801and electronic device 802 can display the interfaces displayed inscreenshots 400 (FIGS. 4A and 4B) and 500 (FIG. 5).

In some embodiments, touchscreen device 801 and electronic device 802are not in direct communication with each other. For example, astreaming service server 803 can act as an intermediary betweentouchscreen device 801 and electronic device 802 using Internet 804,some other suitable network, or through direct communication. In thesame or different embodiments, streaming service server 803 hosts a setof thumbnails derived from a media file, and can transmit thumbnails toa device displaying interface 810 and/or interfaces displayed inscreenshots 400 (FIGS. 4A and 4B) and/or 500 (FIG. 5). In furtherembodiments, streaming service server 803 can be in communication with adongle (not shown) using Internet 804, some other suitable network, orthrough direct communication. In the same or different embodiments, thedongle (not shown) can be coupled to electronic device 802 to facilitatetouchscreen device 801 being used to initiate and control playback of amedia file that is displayed on electronic device 802. In variousembodiments, a dongle (not shown) can receive communications from thestreaming service server 803 comprising commands sent from touchscreendevice 801, a media file streamed from the streaming service server 803,and/or a set of thumbnails derived from a media file. In someembodiments, the dongle (not shown) can transmit instructions to displaya media file, a set of thumbnails derived from a media file, aninterface shown in screenshot in screenshots 400 (FIGS. 4A and 4B)and/or 500 (FIG. 5), or interface 800 on electronic device 802. In thesame or different embodiments, streaming service server 803 cansimultaneously transmit a media file to electronic device 802 and a setof thumbnails derived from a media file to a touchscreen device 801. Insome embodiments, streaming service server 803 can simultaneouslytransmit a media file to a touchscreen device and a set of thumbnailsderived from a media file to a dongle coupled to electronic device 802.

In some embodiments, the methods performed by the various disclosedsystems can comprise receiving various types touchscreen inputs, thusallowing for multiple different commands to be received by the systems.In some embodiments, the systems can receive a single point touchscreeninput. In the same or different embodiments, the systems can receive amulti-point touchscreen input. For example, the multi-point touchscreeninput can comprise a 2 point touchscreen input, a 3 point touchscreeninput, a 4 point touchscreen input, a 5 point touchscreen input, a 6point touchscreen input, a 7 point touchscreen input, an 8 pointtouchscreen input, a 9 point touchscreen input, and/or a 10 pointtouchscreen input. In various embodiments, a touchscreen input cancomprise a tap and/or a swipe.

In some embodiments, communications and/or data transmitted and/orreceived by, within and/or between system 800 can be performedautomatically. In further embodiments, communications and/or datatransmitted and/or received by, within and/or between system 800 can beperformed in real time. In other embodiments, from communications and/ordata transmitted and/or received by, within and/or between system 800can originate from multiple sources.

In some embodiments, touchscreen inputs comprising a single point swipeand/or tap can be used by systems 300 (FIG. 3) 800 to enter a navigationmode. In the same or different embodiments, a multi-point swipe and/ortap can be used by systems 300 (FIG. 3) 800 to enter a navigation mode.In various embodiments, a swipe and/or tap near the center of atouchscreen can be used to enter the navigation mode. In variousembodiments, a swipe and/or tap near the left side, right side, top,bottom, upper right corner, upper left corner, lower right corner, orlower left corner of a touchscreen can be used to enter the navigationmode. In this way, a user can enter navigation mode when he is using thetouchscreen device with different hands and/or in differentorientations.

In some embodiments, touchscreen inputs comprising a swipe and/or tapcan be used by systems 300 (FIG. 3) 800 to navigate through a mediafile. In the same or different embodiments, a multi-point swipe and/ortap can be used by systems 300 (FIG. 3) 800 to navigate through a mediafile. In the same or different embodiments, a swipe can be used to moveforward and/or backward depending on the directionality of the swipe.For example, a left-to right, right-to-left, top-to-bottom, orbottom-to-top swipe can move a media file forward and/or backward intime. In this way, a user can navigate through a media file when he isusing the touchscreen device with different hands and/or in differentorientations.

In some embodiments, a length of a single point and/or multi-point swipecan be proportional to an amount of time that a media file is advancedand/or rewound. In the same or different embodiments, the relationshipbetween a length of a swipe and an amount of time that a media file isadvanced and/or rewound can be a linear relationship such that each unitof distance traveled by a swipe increases an amount of time that a mediafile is advanced and/or rewound by an equal amount of time. In furtherembodiments, the relationship between a length of a swipe and an amountof time that a media file is advanced and/or rewound can be anexponential relationship such that each unit of distance traveled by aswipe increases an amount of time that a media file is advanced and/orrewound by an increasing amount of time.

In some embodiments, a single point and/or multi-point swipe thatadvances and/or rewinds a media file can comprise a first distanceand/or a second distance. In the same or different embodiments, a singlepoint and/or multi-point swipe that travels a first distance willadvance a media file at a rate of approximately 1× 2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, 6×,7×, 8×, 9×, and/or 10×. In further embodiments, a single point and/ormulti-point swipe that advances and/or rewinds a media file can comprisea second distance that is greater than a predetermined distance and/orgreater than the first distance. For example, a single point and/ormulti-point swipe that travels a second distance will advance and/orrewind a media file at a rate of approximately 1× 2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, 6×,7×, 8×, 9×, and/or 10× greater than the single point and/or multi-pointswipe that travels the first distance. As another non-limiting example,a swipe can advance and/or rewind a media file one second for every 10pixels of distance traveled across the touchscreen, a predetermineddistance can be 150 pixels, and a media file can be advanced and/orrewound 5 seconds for every 10 pixels traveled beyond the predetermineddistance. The aforementioned non-limiting example corresponds with anembodiment where a first distance advances and/or rewinds a media fileat a rate of 1× and a second distance advances and/or rewinds a mediafile at a rate of 5×.

In some embodiments, touchscreen inputs comprising a swipe and/or a tapcan be used by systems 300 (FIG. 3) and 800 to adjust a volume of amedia file played on an electronic device. In the same or differentembodiments, a multi-point swipe and/or a tap can be used by systems 300(FIG. 3) and 800 to adjust a volume of a media file played on anelectronic device. In the same or different embodiments, a swipe can beused to increase and/or decrease a volume of a media file played on anelectronic device depending on the directionality of the swipe. Invarious embodiments, a left-to right, right-to-left, top-to-bottom, orbottom-to-top swipe can increase and/or decrease a volume of a mediafile played on an electronic device. In this way, a user can adjust thevolume of a media file being played on an electronic device when he isusing the touchscreen device with different hands and/or in differentorientations.

In some embodiments, a length of a single point and/or multi-point swipecan be proportional to an amount a volume of a media file being playedon an electronic device can be increase and/or decreased. In the same ordifferent embodiments, the relationship between a length of a swipe andan amount a volume of a media file being played on an electronic deviceis increase and/or decreased can be a linear relationship such that eachunit of distance traveled by a swipe increases and/or decreases a volumeof a media file on an electronic device an equal percentage of themaximum volume. In further embodiments, the relationship between alength of a swipe and an amount a volume of a media file being played onan electronic device is increase and/or decreased can be an exponentialrelationship such that each unit of distance traveled by a swipeincreases and/or decreases a volume of a media file on an electronicdevice by an increasing percentage of the maximum volume.

In some embodiments, a single point and/or multi-point swipe thatadjusts a volume of a media file being played on an electronic devicecan comprise a first distance and/or a second distance. In the same ordifferent embodiments, a single point and/or multi-point swipe thattravels a first distance will increase and/or decrease a volume of amedia file being played on an electronic device at a rate ofapproximately 1× 2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, 6×, 7×, 8×, 9×, and/or 10×. In furtherembodiments, a single point and/or multi-point swipe that that adjusts avolume of a media file being played on an electronic device can comprisea second distance that is greater than a predetermined distance and/orgreater than a first distance. For example, a single point and/ormulti-point swipe that travels a second distance will increase and/ordecrease a volume of a media file being played on an electronic deviceat a rate of approximately 1× 2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, 6×, 7×, 8×, 9×, and/or 10×greater than the single point and/or multi-point swipe that travels thefirst distance. As another non-limiting example, a swipe can increaseand/or decrease a volume of a media file being played on an electronicdevice one percentage of the maximum volume for every 10 pixels ofdistance traveled across the touchscreen, a predetermined distance canbe 150 pixels, and a volume of a media file being played on anelectronic device can be increased and/or decreased five percent of themaximum volume for every 10 pixels traveled beyond the predetermineddistance. The aforementioned non-limiting example corresponds with anembodiment where a first distance increases and/or decreases a volume ofa media file being played on an electronic device at a rate of 1× and asecond distance increases and/or decreases a volume of a media filebeing played on an electronic device at a rate of 5×.

In some embodiments, touchscreen inputs comprising a swipe and/or a tapcan be used by systems 300 (FIG. 3) 800 to adjust a brightness of amedia file played on an electronic device. In the same or differentembodiments, a multi-point swipe and/or a tap can be used by systems 300(FIG. 3) 800 to adjust a brightness of a media file played on anelectronic device. In various embodiments, once a media file iscompleted, a brightness of an electronic device will return to abrightness an electronic device was at before the media file began. Inthe same or different embodiments, a swipe can be used to increaseand/or decrease a brightness of a media file played on an electronicdevice depending on the directionality of the swipe. In variousembodiments, a left-to right, right-to-left, top-to-bottom, orbottom-to-top swipe can increase and/or decrease a brightness of a mediafile played on an electronic device. In this way, a user can adjust thebrightness of a media file being played on an electronic device when heis using the touchscreen device with different hands and/or in differentorientations.

In some embodiments, a length of a single point and/or multi-point swipecan be proportional to an amount a brightness of a media file beingplayed on an electronic device can be increase and/or decreased. In thesame or different embodiments, the relationship between a length of aswipe and an amount a brightness of a media file being played on anelectronic device is increase and/or decreased can be a linearrelationship such that each unit of distance traveled by a swipeincreases and/or decreases a brightness of a media file on an electronicdevice an equal percentage of the maximum brightness. In furtherembodiments, the relationship between a length of a swipe and an amounta brightness of a media file being played on an electronic device isincrease and/or decreased can be an exponential relationship such thateach unit of distance traveled by a swipe increases and/or decreases abrightness of a media file on an electronic device by an increasingpercentage of the maximum brightness.

In some embodiments, a single point and/or multi-point swipe thatadjusts a brightness of a media file being played on an electronicdevice can comprise a first distance and/or a second distance. In thesame or different embodiments, a single point and/or multi-point swipethat travels a first distance will increase and/or decrease a brightnessof a media file being played on an electronic device at a rate ofapproximately 1× 2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, 6×, 7×, 8×, 9×, and/or 10×. In furtherembodiments, a single point and/or multi-point swipe that that adjusts abrightness of a media file being played on an electronic device cancomprise a second distance that is greater than a predetermined distanceand/or greater than the first distance. For example, a single pointand/or multi-point swipe that travels a second distance will increaseand/or decrease a brightness of a media file being played on anelectronic device at a rate of approximately 1× 2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, 6×, 7×,8×, 9×, and/or 10× greater than the single point and/or multi-pointswipe that travels the first distance. As another non-limiting example,a swipe can increase and/or decrease a brightness of a media file beingplayed on an electronic device one percentage of the maximum brightnessfor every 10 pixels of distance traveled across the touchscreen, apredetermined distance can be 150 pixels, and a brightness of a mediafile being played on an electronic device can be increased and/ordecreased five percent of the maximum brightness for every 10 pixelstraveled beyond the predetermined distance. The aforementionednon-limiting example corresponds with an embodiment where a firstdistance increases and/or decreases a brightness of a media file beingplayed on an electronic device at a rate of 1× and a second distanceincreases and/or decreases a brightness of a media file being played onan electronic device at a rate of 5×.

The above embodiments have been described with reference to media fileplayback on a touchscreen device. It will be understood by those skilledin the art that various changes can be made without departing from thespirit or scope of the disclosure. For example, the media file caninclude audio only, video only, or a combination of audio and video. Inaddition, embodiments can be performed on devices that do not have atouchscreen interface. For example, a mouse, trackpad, touchpad,trackball, remote control, or various other interface devices also beused.

Although the above embodiments have been described with reference tospecific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the artthat various changes can be made without departing from the spirit orscope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure of embodiments isintended to be illustrative of the scope of the disclosure and is notintended to be limiting. It is intended that the scope of the disclosureshall be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims. Forexample, to one of ordinary skill in the art, it will be readilyapparent that any element of FIGS. 1-7 can be modified, and that theforegoing discussion of certain of these embodiments does notnecessarily represent a complete description of all possibleembodiments. For example, one or more of the procedures, processes, oractivities of FIGS. 1-7 can include different procedures, processes,and/or activities and be performed by many different modules, in manydifferent orders.

Replacement of one or more claimed elements constitutes reconstructionand not repair. Additionally, benefits, other advantages, and solutionsto problems have been described with regard to specific embodiments. Thebenefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element or elementsthat can cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or becomemore pronounced, however, are not to be construed as critical, required,or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims, unlesssuch benefits, advantages, solutions, or elements are stated in suchclaim.

Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicatedto the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/orlimitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are orare potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations inthe claims under the doctrine of equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: one or more processors; andone or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computinginstructions configured to run on the one or more processors andperform: transmitting instructions to initiate a playback of a mediafile on an electronic device; receiving, from a user, an instruction toenter a navigation mode; in response to receiving the instruction toenter the navigation mode; receiving a navigational input comprising amovement; and transmitting instructions to simultaneously display two ormore thumbnails of a set of multiple thumbnails on a display, whereineach respective thumbnail of the set of multiple thumbnails represents adifferent portion of the media file that is spaced a common time (T)from other neighboring different portions of the media file representedby one of the set of multiple thumbnails, wherein the common time (T)comprises a first value when a length of the movement is at or below afirst distance and comprises a second value greater than the first valuewhen the length of the movement is greater than the first distance;receiving, from the user, an input indicating a request to view a firstportion of the media file represented by a first thumbnail of the two ormore thumbnails; and transmitting instructions to resume the playback ofthe media file on the electronic device at the first portion of themedia file represented by the first thumbnail of the two or morethumbnails.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein: the instruction to enterthe navigation mode is sent from a mobile electronic device of the usercomprising a touchscreen, the mobile electronic device being differentthan the electronic device; and the input indicating the request to viewthe first portion of the media file comprises a touchscreen input. 3.The system of claim 2, wherein: the touchscreen input comprises a singlepoint left-to-right swipe on a touchscreen; and the first portion of themedia file comprises a portion of the media file comprising a timeforward in the media file.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein a length ofthe single point left-to-right swipe is proportional to the time forwardin the media file of the first portion of the media file.
 5. The systemof claim 3, wherein: when a length of the single point left-to-rightswipe comprises a first distance, each thumbnail of the set of multiplethumbnails is advanced to the first thumbnail of the set of multiplethumbnails at a first rate for each unit of distance the single pointleft-to-right swipe travels.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein: when thelength of the single point left-to-right swipe comprises a seconddistance beyond the first distance, each thumbnail of the set ofmultiple thumbnails is advanced to the first thumbnail of the set ofmultiple thumbnails at a second rate faster than the first rate for eachunit of distance the swipe travels.
 7. The system of claim 2, wherein:the touchscreen input comprises a single point right-to-left swipe onthe touchscreen; and the first portion of the media file comprises aportion of the media file comprising a time backward in the media file.8. The system of claim 7, wherein a length of the single pointright-to-left swipe is proportional to the time backward in the mediafile of the first portion of the media file.
 9. The system of claim 1,wherein the computing instructions are further configured to perform:receiving a second input from the user, the second input comprising asingle point bottom-to-top swipe on a touchscreen; and after receivingthe second input, transmitting instructions to increase a volume of themedia file on the electronic device.
 10. The system of claim 1, whereinthe computing instructions are further configured to perform: receivinga second input from the user, the second input comprising a multi-pointbottom-to-top swipe on a touchscreen; and after receiving the secondinput, transmitting instructions to increase a brightness of the mediafile on the electronic device.
 11. A method implemented via execution ofcomputing instructions configured to run at one or more processors andconfigured to be stored at non-transitory computer-readable media, themethod comprising: transmitting instructions to initiate a playback of amedia file on an electronic device; receiving, from a user, aninstruction to enter a navigation mode; in response to receiving theinstruction to enter the navigation mode; receiving a navigational inputcomprising a movement; and transmitting instructions to simultaneouslydisplay two or more thumbnails of a set of multiple thumbnails on adisplay, wherein each respective thumbnail of the set of multiplethumbnails represents a different portion of the media file that isspaced a common time (T) from other neighboring different portions ofthe media file represented by one of the set of multiple thumbnails,wherein the common time (T) comprises a first value when a length of themovement is at or below a first distance and comprises a second valuegreater than the first value when the length of the movement is greaterthan the first distance; receiving, from the user, an input indicating arequest to view a first portion of the media file represented by a firstthumbnail of the two or more thumbnails; and transmitting instructionsto resume the playback of the media file on the electronic device at thefirst portion of the media file represented by the first thumbnail ofthe two or more thumbnails.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein: theinstruction to enter the navigation mode is sent from a mobileelectronic device of the user comprising a touchscreen, the mobileelectronic device being different than the electronic device; and theinput indicating the request to view the first portion of the media filecomprises a touchscreen input.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein: thetouchscreen input comprises a single point left-to-right swipe on atouchscreen; and the first portion of the media file comprises a portionof the media file comprising a time forward in the media file.
 14. Themethod of claim 13, wherein a length of the single point left-to-rightswipe is proportional to the time forward in the media file of the firstportion of the media file.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein: when alength of the single point left-to-right swipe comprises a firstdistance, each thumbnail of the set of multiple thumbnails is advancedto the first thumbnail of the set of multiple thumbnails at a first rateof for each unit of distance the single point left-to-right swipetravels.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein: when the length of thesingle point left-to-right swipe comprises a second distance beyond thefirst distance, each thumbnail of the set of multiple thumbnails isadvanced to the first thumbnail of the set of multiple thumbnails at asecond rate faster than the first rate of for each unit of distance theswipe travels.
 17. The method of claim 12, wherein: the touchscreeninput comprises a single point right-to-left swipe on the touchscreen;and the first portion of the media file comprises a portion of the mediafile comprises a time backward in the media file.
 18. The method ofclaim 17, wherein a length of the single point right-to-left swipe isproportional to the time backward in the media file of the first portionof the media file.
 19. The method of claim 11 further comprising:receiving a second input from the user, the second input comprising asingle point bottom-to-top swipe on a touchscreen; and after receivingthe second input, automatically and in real time transmittinginstructions to increase a volume of the media file on the electronicdevice.
 20. The method of claim 11 further comprising receiving a secondinput from the user, the second input comprising a multi-pointbottom-to-top swipe on a touchscreen; and after receiving the secondinput, transmitting instructions to increase a brightness of the mediafile on the electronic device.